Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial environmental lawyer turned public well being critic, is about to search out out on Tuesday if he has cleared the primary hurdle to turn out to be the nation’s high well being official when the Senate Finance Committee votes on his nomination.
Democrats are nonetheless elevating considerations about Kennedy’s potential to revenue from anti-vaccine advocacy and lawsuits, however Republicans look like rallying behind President Donald Trump’s well being secretary nominee. On Monday, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican as soon as considered as a attainable “no” vote, introduced he would again Kennedy.
Kennedy wants assist from all however three Republicans if Democrats uniformly oppose him.
What is going to physician and Republican Invoice Cassidy do?
One key vote stays in query: Republican Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Louisiana doctor who sits on the finance committee that may vote on Kennedy’s affirmation. Final week, throughout Kennedy’s hearings, Cassidy repeatedly implored Kennedy to reject a disproven principle that vaccines trigger autism, to no avail. He ended the listening to by saying he was “struggling” with the vote.
“Your previous, undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or deceptive arguments, considerations me,” Cassidy instructed Kennedy.
On Monday night, Cassidy instructed reporters that he had “very cordial” conversations with Kennedy over the weekend however was “nonetheless working by” the way to deal with his vote.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky are all seen as potential no votes, too, as a result of they voted towards Trump’s protection secretary nominee and have expressed considerations about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine work.
In a CBS 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday, McConnell declined to say how he would vote on Kennedy’s nomination however reiterated “vaccines are critically necessary.”
Democrats nonetheless have questions for Kennedy
Democrats, in the meantime, proceed to lift alarms about Kennedy’s potential to financially profit from altering vaccine pointers or weakening federal lawsuit protections towards vaccine makers if confirmed as well being secretary.
“It appears attainable that many various kinds of vaccine-related selections and communications—which you’d be empowered to make and affect as Secretary—may end in vital monetary compensation for your loved ones,” Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote in a letter despatched over the weekend to Kennedy.
Kennedy mentioned he’ll give his son the entire referral charges in authorized circumstances towards vaccine makers, together with the charges he will get from referring shoppers in a case towards Merck. Kennedy instructed the committee he’s referred a whole bunch of shoppers to a regulation agency that’s suing Merck’s Gardasil, the human papillomavirus vaccine that stops cervical most cancers. He’s earned $2.5 million from the deal over the previous three years.
As secretary, Kennedy will oversee vaccine suggestions and public well being campaigns for the $1.7 trillion company, which can also be liable for meals and hospital inspections, offering medical health insurance for tens of millions of People, and researching lethal ailments.
Who’re the wild card votes?
Kennedy’s allies are nonetheless holding out hope that they might entice a Democrat or two to their facet. A strain marketing campaign has been targeted on Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who has expressed assist for Kennedy’s push to make American meals extra wholesome. Pennsylvania’s Democratic Sen. John Fetterman has additionally been a spotlight, though he instructed Fox Information Channel this weekend that the nomination was “difficult.”
A Democratic-led opposition marketing campaign, constructed round Kennedy’s anti-vaccine advocacy and affect in Samoa throughout a measles outbreak that left dozens of kids and infants lifeless in 2019, has additionally narrowed in on Republican Sen. John Curtis, who represents Utah, dwelling to one of many nation’s largest Samoan populations.
Tuesday’s vote is simply the beginning
The Senate finance committee, made up of 25 senators, will vote on whether or not to advocate Kennedy for a vote on the Senate flooring, the place all 100 senators can have the possibility to vote on the nomination.
The committee vote might be a robust indicator of the place issues are headed for Kennedy, but it surely’s not essentially the ultimate phrase. Even when the committee votes towards his affirmation—seemingly unlikely—Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., may nonetheless push for a flooring vote.
If Kennedy will get the committee’s suggestion, he may nonetheless have work to do to win over Collins, Murkowski, and McConnell. Cassidy additionally may probably vote towards Kennedy’s remaining affirmation even when he votes in favor of him Tuesday.
What’s ‘MAHA’?
Kennedy, a longtime Democrat, ran for president however withdrew final 12 months to throw his assist to Trump in alternate for an influential job in his Republican administration. Collectively, they’ve cast a new and unusual coalition made up of conservatives who oppose vaccines and liberals who need to see the federal government promote more healthy meals. Trump and Kennedy have branded the motion as “Make America Wholesome Once more.”
—Amanda Seitz and Stephen Groves, Related Press
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